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There are various factors which affect the success rate of tympanic membrane (perforation) closure, including age of the patient, size of the perforation, duration of the ear discharge, the presence or absence of infective discharge at the time of surgery. Our aim was to observe the effect of presence of discharge from the ear on the success (outcome) of tympanoplasty. This is prospective study which was conducted on 300 cases with 150 patients each in dry and wet ear group. The study was conducted on patients of age 12–65 years and of either sex presenting with chronic otitis media. Ear discharge for less than 10 years, 78% in dry ear group and 81% in wet ear group. Around 64% had complaint of decreased hearing for

Salivary gland lesions comprise for about 2–6.5% of all head and neck neoplasms in adults. They are accessible for FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology). The risk of fistula formation and/or tumour implantation are low compared to surgical biopsy. FNAC can also provide a distinction between asalivary and non-salivary lesion, benign and malignant lesions. 67 patients were studied prospectively over 5 years. FNAC was performed pre-operatively and histopathological examination post-operatively in patients who underwent surgery and were willing to participate in the study. 59.7% of the lesions were non-neoplastic and 58.2% were neoplastic (37.3% benign and 20.8% malignant). Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common benign neoplasm while mucoepidermoidand adenoid cystic carcinoma both were the most frequent malignant lesion. Among the non-neoplastic lesions, the most number of cases were of chronic sialadentis. In our study, FNAC has a sensitivity of 94.54% specificity of 80.95% for neoplastic lesions. It was seen that FNAC was a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of salivary gland lesions because of its simplicity, excellent patient compliance and rapid diagnosis. This cost effective tool is invaluable in planning the surgical management of the patient.

The objective of the study was to assess endoscopic coblation adenoidectomy and conventional cold curettage adenoidectomy in terms of safety and efficacy in pediatric patients. Study included 40 pediatric patients, aged between 4-17 years. 20 patients underwent cold curettage adenoidectomy and 20 underwent Coblation adenoidectomy. The 2 procedures were compared on various parameters like duration of surgery, intra-operative blood loss, and post -operative pain. To further the comparison, follow -up Nasal Endoscopy was done after 1 week and after 1 month to assess for injury to peripheral tissues and completeness of removal of adenoids. There was statistically significant difference, favouring Coblation adenoidectomy in terms of lesser intra-operative blood loss (mean blood loss of 19 mL Vs 28.5 mL) and lesser post -operative pain measured on Visual Analogue Scale (median VAS score of 2 Vs 2.67). Shorter duration of surgery (mean operative time of 10.3 min Vs 15.5 min) was the only parameter in favour of conventional cold curettage method. Injury to peripheral tissue and residual adenoid were seen in patients who underwent curettage adenoidectomy. The overall advantages of Coblation adenoidectomy when compared with cold curettage adenoidectomy are less intra-operative bleeding, less post -operative pain, completeness and preciseness of adenoid removal with minimal injury to adjacent tissues. For these reasons, Coblation adenoidectomy should be the standard technique adopted for adenoidectomy.

The objective of the study was to study the outcomes of interlay type 1 tympanoplasty in large central perforations in terms of graft uptake, hearing improvement and complications. Study included 150 symptomatic patients having large central perforation in tympanic membrane willing for surgery who later underwent tympanoplasty with or without cortical mastoidectomy. All the patients selected for study, were assessed for subjective and objective evaluation pre-operatively and then post-operatively after 4 months. The study was conducted at tertiary health care hospital. Type I tympanoplasty with Interlay technique for large central perforations is superior. The Interlay technique in Type I tympanoplasty has high success both in terms of graft uptake as well as ABG closure. In the view of the advantages it offers, it should be preferred over the other conventional techniques in patients with large central perforations for better results.

Al/p-CIAS Schottky diodes were fabricated by depositing aluminium (Al) on different flash evaporated copper–indium–aluminium–diselenide (CIAS) films of varying thickness. Further, all diodes were annealed at 573 K for an hour. The influence of p-CIAS film thickness and the thermal annealing of Al/p-CIAS Schottky diode were investigated by observing current–voltage (I–V) and capacitance–voltage (C–V) characteristics at room temperature. Various diode parameters, such as ideality factor (η), barrier height (ϕbo) and series resistance (Rs) were calculated using Cheung’s and Norde methods. ϕbo found to increase with annealing as well as with increase in the film thickness. However, the value of η and Rs decreases with annealing and CIAS thickness. The effective density of states (Nv), acceptor density of states (NA) and barrier height have been calculated from C–V measurements. Values obtained from CV analysis were well matched with I–V results. The value of Nv decreases and the value of NA increases with the increase in the film thickness. Using I–V and C–V parameters, energy band gap for the prepared Al/p-CIAS diodes has been reconstructed.

Electrochromic devices (ECDs) are currently attracting much interest in academic and industry for both research and their commercial applications because of their controllable transmission, absorption, and/or reflectance. This paper reviews the progress that has taken place from 1969 until the year 2015 with regard to all-solid-state inorganic ECD fabrication. The main aim of this review article is to provide an easy entrance to literature of all-inorganic solid-state ECD.

The fabrication of nonwoven mats containing chitosan and bacterial nanocellulose by electrospinning were considered using two different approaches: (1) simultaneous spinning of chitosan and bacterial nanocellulose solutions using two separate syringes towards the same target and (2) coaxial electrospinning, where chitosan and bacterial nanocellulose were simultaneously electrospun through a spinneret composed of two concentric needles to produce core–shell structures. Co-spinning agents were required in both approaches. A direct blend of chitosan and bacterial nanocellulose and subsequent electrospinning was not feasible due to the incompatibility of their respective solvents. The first approach led to the production of mats containing both chitosan and bacterial nanocellulose nanofibers. However, few bacterial nanocellulose fibers were deposited on the collector. Addition of polylactide as a co-spinning agent and an increase in solution temperature (from 22 to 60 °C) during electrospinning was required to improve both fiber formation and collection. On the other hand, coaxial electrospinning showed the best results for the production of nanofibers containing both chitosan and bacterial nanocellulose. Nanofibers with a good yield were obtained by using a chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) (2.4/0.6 wt/v%) aqueous solution as the inner layer, and a bacterial nanocellulose solution (0.6 wt/v%) as the outer layer. Co-electrospun nanofibers had a diameter of 85 nm in average, and a narrow size distribution. The core/shell nanostructure was validated by transmission electron microscopy whilst energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis showed that the nanofibers contained both chitosan and bacterial nanocellulose along their structure. Finally, the mats obtained by the coaxial approach exhibited strong antimicrobial activity with a decrease of 99.9 % of an Escherichia coli population.

Indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films were deposited by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering onto glass substrates. The transparent and conducting ITO thin films were obtained on externally unheated glass substrate, without any post-heat treatment, and by varying the deposition process parameters such as the working pressure and the RF Power. The effect of the variation of the above deposition parameters on the structural, surface morphology, electrical, and optical properties of the thin films have been studied. A minimum resistivity of 2.36 × 10−4 Ω cm and 80% transmittance with a figure of merit 37.2 × 10−3 Ω−1 is achieved for the thin films grown on externally unheated substrate with 75 W RF power and 0.5 mTorr working pressure.

We have investigated the electrophysical properties of metallic thin films based on Cu/Cr and Fe/Cr systems. We find that the longitudinal gauge factor of two-layer films is significantly greater as compared with one-layer films, which have the same thickness as the total thickness of a two-layer film. Interface and intensive grain–boundary electron scattering explain such an increase in the longitudinal gauge factor. We find that the longitudinal gauge factor increases in transition from elastic to plastic zone.

Reflectivity simulation is an essential tool for the design and optimization of optical thin films. We have developed a reflectivity simulator for non-absorbing dielectric multilayer optical thin films using LabVIEW. The name of the substrate material as well as the material and thickness of each layer of the multilayer stack are fed into the program as input parameters in a pop-up window. The program calculates reflectivity spectrum for the given range of wavelengths using layer thicknesses and dispersion data of refractive indices for the defined stack of dielectric materials. The simulated reflectivity spectra for various combinations of materials in multilayer stacks are presented and compared with the experimental results of the multilayer optical thin films grown by electron-beam evaporation technique.

Copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2) compound was synthesized by reacting its elemental components, i.e., copper, indium, and selenium, in stoichiometric proportions (i.e., 1:1:2 with 5% excess selenium) in an evacuated quartz ampoule. Structural and compositional characterization of synthesized pulverized material confirms the polycrystalline nature of tetragonal phase and stoichiometry. CuInSe2 thin films were deposited on soda lime glass substrates kept at different temperatures (300–573 K) using flash evaporation technique. The effect of substrate temperature on structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of CuInSe2 thin films were investigated using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical measurements (transmission and reflection), and Hall effect characterization techniques. XRD analysis revealed that CuInSe2 thin films deposited above 473 K exhibit (112) preferred orientation of grains. Transmission and reflectance measurements analysis suggests that CuInSe2 thin films deposited at different substrate temperatures have high absorption coefficient (~104 cm−1) and optical energy band gap in the range 0.93–1.02 eV. Results of electrical characterization showed that CuInSe2 thin films deposited at different substrate temperatures have p-type conductivity and hole mobility value in the range 19–136 cm2/Vs. Variation of energy band gap and resistivity of CuInSe2 thin films deposited at 523 K with thickness was also studied. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity measurements showed that CuInSe2 film deposited at 523 K has an activation energy of ~30 meV.

A simple, sensitive, precise and accurate reversed phase liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of atorvastatin (AT) calcium, ramipril (RA) and aspirin (AS) from capsule dosage form. The method was developed using a Phenomenex Luna C18 (250 mm, 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm) column with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1%, orthophosphoric acid buffer:acetonitrile:methanol (45:50:5 v/v/v), pH 3.3, at a flow rate of 1 mL min−1. Detection was carried out with ultra-violet detection at 210 nm. The retention times were about 12.19, 2.35, and 3.95 min for AT calcium, RA and AS, respectively. The developed method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantitation and robustness. The linearity ranges were 1–6 µg mL−1 for AT calcium, 0.5–3 µg mL−1 for RA and 7.5–45 µg mL−1 for AS with mean recoveries of 100.59 ± 0.68, 100.62 ± 0.83 and 100.49 ± 0.73% for AT calcium, RA and AS, respectively. Limit of detection obtained were 29.85 ng mL−1 for AT calcium, 4.71 ng mL−1 for RA and 85.13 ng mL−1 for AS. Impurity of salicylic acid was found in capsule dosage form at the retention time of about 4.84 min. The proposed method can be used for the estimation of these drugs in combined dosage forms.

Laser diodes are by far the most varied, flexible, cheapest and the most abundant lasers. For long-term, reliable operation and for maximum optical power utilization, laser diode is coated with the anti-reflection (AR) and high-reflection (HR) coatings by means of dielectric layers on the front and the back facet, respectively. For the optimum performance, accurate monitoring and control over the reflectivity of the dielectric thin film layers at specific lasing wavelength is necessary. We have demonstrated a simple and inexpensive in-situ reflectivity measurement system for the facets-coating of laser diodes. The system relies on the measurement of dynamic optical reflectance of the growing thin film by means of intensity of a laser-beam reflected from the gallium arsenide test-substrate kept in the close vicinity of the laser diode facet being coated. The in-situ reflectivity monitoring of single layer AR film and multilayer HR films have been demonstrated and verified with ex-situ reflectivity measurements.

Indium sesquitelluride (In2Te3) thin films were grown on glass substrates using a flash evaporation technique. The nature of contact phenomena of Ag, Sn, In, Zn, Al-(p) In2Te3 junctions had been investigated. Ag, Sn, In and Zn metals were found to provide ohmic contact for In2Te3 thin films. The variation of DC-electrical resistivity of In2Te3 thin films with temperature was studied at different substrate temperatures. The optical measurements revealed that the flash evaporated In2Te3 thin films possessing direct energy band-gap. The variation of optical energy gap with substrate temperature was investigated. Film thickness, substrate temperature, composition and crystallinity were found to determine the optimization of electrical and optical properties of In2Te3 thin film.

Purpose: PCK3145 is a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 31–45 of prostate secretory protein 94, which can reduce experimental skeletal metastases and prostate tumor growth in vivo. Part of its biological action involves the reduction of circulating plasma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, a crucial mediator in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation during tumor metastasis and cancer cell invasion. The antimetastatic mechanism of action of PCK3145 is however, not understood. Experimental design: HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells were treated with PCK3145, and cell lysates used for immunoblot analysis of small GTPase RhoA and membrane type (MT)1-MMP protein expression. Conditioned media was used to monitor soluble MMP-9 gelatinolytic activity by zymography and protein expression by immunoblotting. RT-PCR was used to assess RhoA, MT1-MMP, MMP-9, RECK, and CD44 gene expression. Flow cytometry was used to monitor cell surface expression of CD44 and of membrane-bound MMP-9. Cell adhesion was performed on different purified ECM proteins, while cell migration was specifically performed on hyaluronic acid (HA). Results: We found that PCK3145 inhibited HT-1080 cell adhesion onto HA, laminin-1, and type-I collagen suggesting the common implication of the cell surface receptor CD44. In fact, PCK3145 triggered the shedding of CD44 from the cell surface into the conditioned media. PCK3145 also inhibited MMP-9 secretion and binding to the cell surface. This effect was correlated to increased RhoA and MT1-MMP gene and protein expression. Conclusions: Our data suggest that PCK3145 may antagonize tumor cell metastatic processes by inhibiting both MMP-9 secretion and its potential binding to its cell surface docking receptor CD44. Such mechanism may involve RhoA signaling and increase in MT1-MMP-mediated CD44 shedding. Together with its beneficial effects in clinical trials, this is the first demonstration of PCK3145 acting as a MMP secretion inhibitor.

Polycrystalline and stoichiometric thin films of indium sesquitelluride (In2Te3) belonging to the α-phase were prepared on glass substrates by flash evaporation technique at a constant temperature of 473 K. The thermoelectric power of these p-type α-In2Te3 thin films was determined as a function of temperature of the hot end of the films and also of film thickness. It was found that the thermoelectric power is nearly independent of temperature and a possible reason for this behavior has been given. The dependence of the thermoelectric power on the reciprocal thickness of the films has also been discussed on the basis of the size effect theories.

Mutants resistant to comparatively high levels of acetic acid were isolated from the xylose-fermenting yeastsCandida shehatae andPichia stipitis by adapting these cultures to increasing concentrations of acetic acid grown in shake-flask cultures. These mutants were tested for their ability to ferment xylose in presence of high acetic acid concentrations, in acid hydrolysates of wood, and in hardwood spent sulfite liquor, and compared with their wild-type counterparts and between themselves. TheP. stipitis mutant exhibited faster fermentation times, better tolerance to acid hydrolysates, and tolerance to lower pH.

With a view to developing a transformation system for brewing yeasts, the stabilities of all-yeast DNA miniplasmids in isogenic haploids were investigated. The stability of the ARS-based miniplasmid YARp11 was found to be comparable to that of two 2 μm ori-based miniplasmids pLAB1 and pLAB2 in selective media, but it propagated at a much higher copy number. The presence or absence of host 2 μm DNA had little effect on the stability of YARp11. The stabilities of all these plasmids were significantly increased in diploid cells. However, a reduction in copy number of the plasmids was observed in all three cases, suggesting influence of MAT genes in controlling plasmid copy number and stability.

A stable spheroplast fusion product of the polyploid brewing strain Saccharomyces uvarum (cares bergensis) , strain 21 and a genetically constructed diploid Saccharomyces diastaticus, strain 1384 has been shown to have improved ethanol producing capability in defined media (Panchal et al., 1982). This fusion product, strain 1400 was further subjected to fermentations in defined media containing glucose substrate and varying concentrations of the non-metabolized sugars sorbitol or mannitol.